Designing with Love
What does it take to design learning experiences that truly work? Join Jackie Pelegrin, award-winning instructional designer and Grand Canyon University (GCU) adjunct instructor, as she explores instructional design, e-learning, and AI integration. Expect actionable tips, real-world insights, and conversations with students, alumni, and industry leaders shaping the future of learning.
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Goodpods Designing with Love
Designing learning with love, purpose, and heart.
This show explores instructional design, e-learning, and how to incorporate AI technology into different aspects of the field.
Tune in for expert tips, real-world insights, and inspiring stories from students, alumni, and leaders in the field.
New to Designing with Love?
143
Aug. 19, 2026
Myth: Assessments Must Be Tests to Be Valid
A quiz can be quick, clean, and easy to score, but does it actually prove learning? We take on a stubborn myth in instructional design and education: that assessments must be tests to be valid. In this episode, Jackie explains why tests are so often treated as the gold standard, from the comfort of “objectivity” to the pressure for efficiency in schools, certification programs, and workplace training. Then we make the real shift: valid assessment is about the quality of evidence, not the format
133
July 15, 2026
Myth: Accessibility Is Optional If Your Learners Don't Request It
The fastest way to lock learners out of your course is to wait for them to ask for access. We’re tackling a stubborn myth in instructional design and education: “Accessibility is optional if learners don’t request it.” It sounds reasonable on paper because many organizations have formal accommodation processes, but it breaks down in real life when learners don’t feel safe disclosing, don’t have documentation, or don’t even know what to ask for until they’re already struggling. We unpack why thi
131
July 8, 2026
Myth: Online Learning Is Less Effective Than In-Person
The fastest way to kill a good learning goal is to blame the format instead of fixing the design. We’re kicking off a new series on myths in instructional design and education by taking on one of the biggest, most stubborn claims out there: online learning is less effective than in-person learning. We get why this belief sticks. A lot of digital learning has felt disconnected, confusing, passive, or overwhelming, especially when people experienced emergency remote teaching that was rushed and u
137
July 29, 2026
Myth: Good Teaching Equals Good Instructional Design
Good teaching is powerful, but it can also hide a trap: when a class goes well, we assume the design must be strong. Jackie unpacks a common myth in instructional design and education that shows up everywhere from K-12 to corporate training and higher ed: good teaching equals good instructional design. They’re connected, but they’re not the same job, and confusing them can leave gaps in practice, assessment, accessibility, and real-world performance. We talk through why this belief has lasted s
139
Aug. 5, 2026
Myth: Learning Styles Should Drive Design Decisions
If you’ve ever heard someone say “I’m a visual learner,” you’ve seen how quickly learning style labels can shape training decisions. In this episode, Jackie unpacks a persistent instructional design myth: that learning styles should drive how we build courses, lessons, and eLearning. Learner preferences are real, but treating them like fixed categories can pull us away from what actually improves performance and understanding. Jackie explores why the myth sticks around, from how personal it fee
141
Aug. 12, 2026
Myth: More Content Means More Learning
More slides do not equal more learning, and if you have ever felt pressured to “add just one more resource,” you already know how quickly a course can turn into a content dump. We take on a stubborn instructional design myth: the idea that piling on readings, videos, examples, and links automatically improves understanding. It sounds responsible, but it often creates confusion, weak retention, and low transfer because learners cannot see what matters most. We dig into why this belief sticks aro
135
July 22, 2026
Myth: Technology Automatically Improves Learning
A shiny new tool can feel like instant progress, but what if it quietly makes your course harder to learn? Jackie is tackling one of the most stubborn myths in instructional design and education: the idea that technology automatically improves learning. Whether you’re rolling out a new LMS, testing an AI content creation tool, or adding interactive features to eLearning, the real question isn’t “Is it modern?” It’s “Does it help learners do something meaningful?” Jackie breaks down why this bel
Recent Episodes
147
Sept. 2, 2026
Myth: AI Will Replace Instructional Designers
AI can generate a course outline, a script, and a quiz in seconds, so it’s easy to wonder if instructional designers are next on the replacement list. We slow that fear down and look at what’s actually happening when AI enters the learning design workflow, and why “fast content” is not the same thing as effective instruction. We unpack the myth “AI will replace instructional designers” and name the reason it sticks: AI outputs are visible, while the real work of instructional design often isn’t
146
Aug. 30, 2026
Game-Based Learning Can Make Security Training Stick With Lee Anderson
Your inbox is designed for speed. Attackers know it, and too many training programs pretend we’re all making perfect choices with unlimited time and zero stress. Jackie had a great conversation with Lee Anderson, a cybersecurity professional with 16+ years of experience reducing human risk, to unpack what really drives security decisions and how better learning design can change behavior. We get into the psychology behind social engineering, including how urgency, fear, and even excitement can
145
Aug. 26, 2026
Myth: Engagement Means Entertainment
Clicking, laughing, and “having fun” can look like engagement, but it can also be a mirage. In this episode, Jackie unpacks a stubborn instructional design myth that shows up in classrooms, eLearning, and workplace training: engagement means entertainment. If you’ve ever felt pressure to add games, humor, flashy visuals, music, competition, or constant interaction to keep attention, this conversation will help you slow down and design with more intention. Jackie breaks down why the myth sticks
144
Aug. 23, 2026
A Name Can Be the First Blueprint for Identity With Dr. Tamara Nall
A suffix can look like a tiny detail on paper, but it can carry an entire family story. Jackie sits down with Dr. Tamara Nall to talk about Junia, a formal naming tradition designed to give daughters the kind of visible legacy marker that “Junior” has long given sons. The conversation starts with naming, then opens into something bigger: identity, representation, and what changes in a culture when we finally give language to what has been missing. Dr. Nall shares the personal roots behind the m
Recent Blog Posts
Sept. 2, 2026
AI Will Not Replace Instructional Designers: Rethinking Our Roles in Learning
In the ever-evolving landscape of education and instructional design, one myth stands out: the belief that artificial intelligence (AI) will replace instructional designers. While AI tools have demonstrated the ability to generate content, outlines,…
Aug. 30, 2026
How to Make Cybersecurity Training Engaging: 5 Strategies for Success With Lee Anderson
Learn how to create engaging cybersecurity training that sticks. From interactive games to practical scenarios, discover strategies that resonate with learners. Cybersecurity training often elicits thoughts of dry compliance and fear-based tactics.…
Aug. 26, 2026
Engagement vs. Entertainment: Unpacking a Common Myth in Instructional Design
In the world of education and instructional design, one persistent myth continues to influence how we view engagement: that engagement means entertainment. This belief can lead educators to focus on making learning experiences flashy and fun, often …
About the Host
Jackie Pelegrin
Award-Winning Instructional Designer, College Professor, Consultant, and Podcast Host
Jackie, an Arizona native, leverages decades of experience as an award-winning instructional designer within both higher education and the corporate world. She holds an MBA and a Master of Science in Instructional Design and Technology, both acquired through online learning. In addition to her full-time role, Jackie serves as an award-winning adjunct instructor, teaching online courses at Grand Canyon University. During her leisure time, she delights in reading books across a range of genres, enjoying movies and TV shows, playing games, listening to uplifting music, and spending quality time with her family and friends.